Hyderabad: 35 persons in Telangana State under home quarantine freed

Hyderabad: Even as Covid-19 outbreak is spreading to new territories with Iran reporting most deaths (26) outside China, the Union government and States including Telangana are on high alert although the situation is not so concerning compared to other countries.

In Telangana, 35 persons, who were under home quarantine for the last 28 days, are found to be asymptomatic to the deadly virus. It may be noted that coronavirus incubation period lasts up to 28 days during which time any of the symptoms like high fever, cold, cough, sore throat, stuffy nose and breathing difficulties would come out in a person affected with it.

None of the 35 persons had such symptoms. So, they were advised to resume their normal work. However, they were told to contact health authorities immediately in case they fall ill in the coming days.

These 35 persons are from the list of 331 people (either asymptomatic or suspected cases, who tested negative already) with recent travel history to China and Hong Kong, who were put under home quarantine for four weeks.

The Centre two days ago had added a few countries including Iran, Republic of Korea and Italy to the list of countries whose flights are being put under the scanner with passengers made to undergo thermal screening.

Although, Hyderabad has no direct flights to these countries, data of passengers is being shared by authorities of Union External Ministry, other States' IDSP (Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme) or Airport Health Office with Telangana government's Health department to take up the required measures, according to State nodal officer Dr Vijay Kumar.

Details of 38 persons were shared in this manner on Friday. They were asymptomatic, but as per Centre's directions they were put under home quarantine.

Meanwhile, Airport health teams at Shamshabad until now screened 15,620 passengers mostly coming from Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand that have direct flight connectivity to the city.

Fortunately for the health authorities here, none of them tested positive to the deadly virus so far.

In view of community spread of the disease, the Centre has expanded the universal screening to all the passengers coming in flights directly from Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal, Iran and Italy besides the flights from China and Hongkong.